Tape controlling means for news projecting machines



1941. J. w. DECKER 2,251,272

TAPE CONTROLLING MEANS FOR NEWS PROJECTING MACHiNES Filed Feb. 10, 19284 Sheets-Sheet 1 a I! a 1 14 1 j y/ INVENTOR 1- J. w. DECKER 2,251,272

TAPE CONTROLLING MEANS FOR NEWS PROJECTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 192B4 Sheet-Sheet 2 W INVENTORQ ATTORNEY 1941- J. w. DECKER 2,251,272

TAPE CONTROLLING MEANS FOR NEWS PROJECTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 19282 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1941. I J. w. DECKER 2,251,272

TAPE CONTROLLING MEANS FOR NEWS PROJECTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, .19284 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1941 TAPECONTROLLING MEANS FOR NEWS PROJECTING MACHINES James W. Decker, NewYork, N. Y.

Application February 10, 1928, Serial No. 253,302

22 Claims.

This invention relates in general to news projecting machines and moreespecially to tape controlling mechanism-which is effective gradually tostart and stop the tape drawing device of anews projecting machine. 1

Among theobjects of the present invention it is aimed to provide a tapecontrolling mechanism for a news projecting machine which will assist inabsorbing the jumps or vibrations transmitted; to the tape by the tickerand will in addition protect the tape against the jars that might betransmitted to the tape by the sudden starting or stopping of the tapedrawing means. To this end, the present invention aimsvespecially toprovide a tape controlling device which embraces a jump absorbing deviceand tape drawing device cooperating with said jump absorbing devicegradually to speed up from a dead stop when the ticker starts andgradually to slow down to a stop when the ticker comes to rest.

Specifically, the invention also aims to provide a resistance forcontrolling the speed of the driving means for the tape drawing device,which driving means operates with the jump absorbing device gradually tospeed up the driving means from a dead stop when the ticker starts andgradually to slow down the driving means to a stop when the ticker comesto rest.

The invention still further contemplates the provision of an electricrheostat for controlling an electric motor constituting the drivingmeans of a'tape drawing. device and ajump absorbing device cooperatingwith said rheostat to cause said electric motor gradually to speed upfrom a dead stop when the ticker starts and gradually toslow down to astop when the ticker comes to rest.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the subjoined detail description of specificembodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichFigure l is a fragmental front elevation of one embodiment of theinvention contemplating a friction resistance for controlling thedriving constituting the driving means in this embodiment;

Fig. 5 is. a fragmental end elevation partly in section of theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the motor and tape drawing; deviceincluding a rewind for the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. '7 isa plan of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmental plan showing the rheostat' controllinglever and appurtenant parts of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmental end elevation of the mechanismillustrated in Fig. 8 and a diagrammatic View of the wiring for therheostat and motor; and

Fig. 10 is a section on the line HJHI of Fig. 8.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there-is shown aplatform I on one side of which there is secured a frame 2 having aticker 3, and on the other side a lamp housing 4 having an extension 5.The ticker, in the present instance, is equipped with a positive typewheel 6 for producing negative characters and is also provided withsuitable feeding means not shown. The lamp housing 4 is provided withthe usual lamp 1 for directing light rays to the lens '8, from which thelight rays are projected onto the inclined mirror 9 formedat the bottomof the extension 5, from which the light rays are projected upwardlythrough the lens lllat the light aperture at the upper end of theextension 5 and through the portion of the tape T passing across thelight aperture.

The tape T, as shown in Fig. 1, passes from the ticker 3 under theroller ll formed at the lower end of the arm [2 and then above theabutment it formed on the bracket l4 secured to the side of theextension 5. Above the abutment is formed a frictioncreating finger I5for pressing the tape T against the abutment It. From the finger l5, thetape passes across the light aperture to the positively driven roller l6and then down either to a rewind roll or a suitable receptacle, notshown.

On the extension 5 is supported the bracket ll having a housing H3 atits upper end for receiving the projecting lens, which receives theimages of the tape projected by the light rays, and which projectinglens in turn projects the images. to the mirror I9 formed in the frame20 supported on suitable brackets such as the bracket 2!, which ispreferably secured to a wall 22 or the like. From the mirror l9 theimages are projected onto the screen 23 in the housing 20.

The tape. drawing roller i6 is connected to a suitable motor. In thepresent instance, there is illustrated a spring motor, the roller 16being fixed to the shaft 24 journaled in the bearing 25 extending fromthe bracket 25 which is preferably secured to the side of the extension5. The shaft 24 is provided with a beveled gear 21 in mesh with thebeveled gear 28 on the shaft 29, which has secured thereto a spur gear33 in mesh with the pinion 3I mounted on the shaft 32, which has securedthereto a spur gear 33 in mesh with the idler 34 on the shaft 35.

The shaft 35 has a pinion 35 fixed thereon in mesh with the pinion 31 onthe shaft 38, see

Fig. 3, which shaft 38 has wound thereon the spring 39. The shaft 35 isprovided with a suitable ratchet wheel 4I cooperating with the pawl 40on the idler 34 so that the handle 42 on the shaft 35 may be actuated towind up the spring 39 in the usual way.

The shaft 29 is also provided with the pinion 43 in mesh with the spurgear 44 on the shaft 45 provided with the broad flywheel 4G. Theflywheel 43 is adapted to cooperate with the brake shoe 41 secured toone end of the lever 48 fixed on the shaft 49, which is journaled in theupper end of the frame 26. The lever 48 passes through the slot 48aformed in the lower end of the arm 50 pivotally connected to the lever Ipivotally connected to the bracket I! at 52. The other end of the lever5I is pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm I2. Whereby thelever 5| and arms I2 and 50 form a pivotally mounted device having oneend engaging the tape adjacent the ticker and the other end operativelyconnected with the brake device including the brake shoe 4! and lever48.

In the operation of this device, the printed face of the tape will faceupward and be engaged by the roller II, the roller II preferablyengaging the tape between the two rows of printed matter on the same inthe usual way. When the ticker stops, the spring motor will continue tooperate to actuate the tape or drawing roller I3 against which the tapeis impinged by the idler 53 secured at one end of the arm 55 pivotallyconnected to the frame 26. The tape drawing roller IE will continue tocooperate with the idler 53 to draw the tape T until the loop or slackunder the roller II has been dissipated or taken up, thereby raising thearm I2, in turn actuating the lever M to depress the arm 50 and therebybringing the brake shoe 41 into engagement with the flywheel 43. As thepressure increases, due to the rise of the arm I2 and the depression ofthe brake shoe 41, the spring motor will gradually slow up and finallycome to a dead stop.

Simultaneously, when the ticker again starts printing and feeding thetape, as the slack is formed under the roller I I the arm I2 willgradually descend, thereby gradually releasing the brake shoe 4'! fromengagement with the flywheel 46, in turn gradually permitting the springmotor to pick up speed and increase the speed of the tape drawing rollerI6.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 to inclusive, the controllingmeans for gradually slowing up the tape drawing means and gradumountedthe bracket 51 for the ticker 58, which is. provided with a negativetype wheel 59 for forming positive type characters and suitable feedingmechanism consisting of the rollers 69 and GI. To one side of thebracket 51 there is provided the lamp housing 62 having the extension63. Between the ticker 58 and the extension 63 there is provided anangle plate 64 for causing the tape as it passes from the ticker to theprojecting mechanism to bend at right angles so that its printed sidewill face downward when it passes through the projecting machine.

The lamp housing 62 in the present instance is provided with the usuallamp 64' for projecting light rays to the lens 65, from which the lightrays are projected to the mirror 66 at the bottom of the extension 63,by means of which mirror 66 the light rays are projected upwardlythrough the light aperture formed at the upper end of the extension 63to pass through the portion of the tape T crossing such light aperture,from which the light rays and resulting images are projected upwardly tothe objective lens unit formed in the lens housing 61, by means of whichobjective lens unit the images are projected onto the mirror 68 formedin the frame 69 supported on the brackets, one of which, III, is shown,which bracket I0 is preferably secured to a wall 'II or the like.Through the mirror 68 in the housing 69 the images are projected ontothe screen I2.

The lens housing 67 is preferably secured at the upper end of thebracket I3 mounted on the extension 63.

The tape T after leaving the ticker 58 passes under the roller 14, fromwhich the tape passes over the angle plate 54 and then over the fingeri5 and past the light aperture I6, see Fig. 8. After passing the lightaperture, the tape T will pass over the idler I1 and then pass down overthe tape drawing roller I8, see Fig. 6, and preferably then pass to therewind reel 79.

The tape drawing roller I3 is fixed on the shaft 89 journaled in thebearing 8| provided with a sheave 82, at one end, which sheave isconnected to the sheave 83 by a belt 85. The sheave 83 is preferablymounted on a shaft 85 which has secured thereto a worm wheel 36 in meshwith the worm 81 on the shaft 83, which has fixed thereto a sheave 83which is connected to the sheave by the belt III. The sheave 93 is fixedon the shaft 92 of the electric motor 93. The shaft 85 is also providedwith a sheave 94 which is connected to the sheave 35 by the belt 95,preferably a yieldable spring belt. The sheave 95 is fixed on the shaft9'! which has mounted thereon the rewind reel 79.

On the bracket 98, preferably below the journal 8|, there is pivotallymounted the bracket 69 having an idler I08 at its upper end. The bracket99 has secured thereto an arm IIJI provided with a weight I52 which isadjustably mounted on the arm IflI whereby the pressure to be exercisedby the idler I90 on the tape T may be regulated, the idler IEIEIfunctioning to press the tape T into engagement with the tape drawingroller I8 so that the tape drawing roller I8 may effectively cause adrawing action to be exercised on the tape T.

The electric motor 33, as shown in Fig. 9, is preferably connected bythe conductor I03 with the conductor I64 which is secured to theconductive arm portion I85 of the lever I06, the lever I36 having aninsulated portion ID! for insulating the portion I 55 from the remainingportion I88 of the lever I05, the roller 14 being pivotally mounted atthe free end of the portion III8of the lever I06. The conductive portionI of the lever I96 is preferably provided with a brush I09 forsuccessively cooperating with the contacts IIO, III, II2, Band-I4.

The contact III] is connected by the conductor H5 with the conductor II6, which conductor I I6 is connected with the outlet plug III, which inturn is connected by the conductor H8 with the motor 93. The conductor IIt is connected by the conductor M9 with one end of the resistance R.The other end of the resistance R is connected by the conductor I20 withthe contact H3. The contact H2 is connected by the conductor I2I withthe resistance R at the point I22 whereby the upper portion A of theresistance may be shunted out. The conductor I23 connects the contact II I with the resistance R at the point I24 whereby the portions A and Bof the resistance are shunted out. The contact I I4 has no contact atall but constitutes a dummy forming the final location of the brush Hi9where the current is cut off from the motor 93.

The brush I09, resistance R and connections, in the present instance,constitute a rheostat for gradually increasing the current fed to themotor and in turn gradually reducing the current fed to the motor. Inother words, when the full loop or full slack is formed, as illustratedin Fig. 9, the roller TA will be at its lowest position and the brushI09 will engage the contact I10, which contact by means of the conductorH5 will permit the full current to pass to the motor 93 without goingthrough any part of the resistance R.

When the ticker stops and the tape drawing roller I8 continues tooperate, it will take up the slack, causing the roller M to rise andtherewith causing the brush IE9 to descend into engagement with thecontact III, when by means of the conductor I23; the current will beretarded through the portion C of the resistance R and thus slow downthe speed of the motor 93 in turn to decrease the speed of the tapedrawing roller I8. In turn, as the slack is taken up, the brush I09 willnext engage the contact H2, when by means of the conductor I2I thecurrent will be when the brush I09 still further descends intoengagement with the element H4 it will shut off the current to the motor93 to cause the same to come to rest.

In turn, when the ticker starts to operate and the slack begins to form,the roller M will first descend sufficiently to permit the brush We toengage the contact H3 and as the slack continues the brush I09 willgradually rise to engage successively the contacts H2, III. and III) toincrease the speed of the motor 93. The roller 14 may be caused todescend with the slack in the tape T by any suitable means, in thepresentinstance, the arm I28 being provided with the extension I25 andWeight I2fi, the weight I25 being adjustably mounted on the extensionI25 to regulate the pressure to be exercised by the roller M on the tapeT.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to thedetails of construction without departing from the general spirit of theinvention asset forth in the appended claims I claim: I

1. In a. stock quotation projection machine having a ticker forintermittently discharging tape, the combination with a tape supporthaving a light aperture, a tape drawing device for smoothly drawing thetape as it is discharged across said support, driving means for saidtape drawing device, speed changing means supplemental to the inertiaefiect of the driving means, comprising a variable speed regulator andcooperating with the inertia effect of the driving means for graduallybringing said driving means to a stop when the discharge of the tapeceases and for gradually causingsaid driving means to pick up speed whenthe discharge of the tape again starts.

2. In a stock quotation projection machine having a ticker forintermittently discharging tape, the combination with a tape supporthaving' a light aperture, of a tape drawing device for smoothly drawingthe tape as it is discharged across said support, driving means for saiddrawing device, a slack sensing device cooperating with the tape inadvance of said support, a speed changing device for said tape drawingdevice comprising a variable speed regulator to advance the tape at therate at which it is being discharged, and means operatively connectingsaid slack sensing device with said speed changing device whereby saidspeed changing device will be effective gradually to slow up theoperation of said tape drawing device as the tape ceases to dischargeand will cause said tape drawing device gradually to pick up speed whenthe discharge of tape again starts.

3. In a stock quotation projecting machine havinga ticker forintermittently discharging a tape, and a projection mechanism having asupport provided with a light aperture, the combination including; atape drawing device for drawing the tape as it is discharged from saidsupport, a speed controlling device to correspond to the rate at whichit is ejected from the ticker icrcontrolling the speed of said tapedrawing device and a finger adapted to engage the tape in advance ofsaid support and operatively connected to said speed controlling device,said finger being responsive to the tension in the tape to actuate saidspeed controlling device in turn to control the speed of the tapedrawing device. i

4. In a stock quotation projecting machine having a ticker forintermittently discharging a tape anda projection mechanism having asupport provided with a light aperture, the combination with a tapedrawing device adapted to feed atape across said support as the tapeisdischarged, a variable speed controlling device for controlling thespeed of said tape drawing device to correspond to the rate at which itis ejected from the ticker, a pivotally mounted lever, and a finger onone end of said lever adapted to engage the tape in advance of saidsupport and responsive to thetension in said tape, the other end of saidlever being operatively connected to said speed controlling device tocontrol the speed of the tape drawing device.

5. Ina stock quotation projecting machine having a tickerforintermittently discharging a tape and a projecting mechanism having asupport provided with a light aperture, the comblnaticn with a tapedrawing device for drawing the tape across said support as it isdischarged,

an electric motor operatively connected to said tape drawing device, arheostat for controlling the speed of said electric motor, a pivotallymounted lever, a finger on one end of said lever adapted to engage thetape and responsive to the tension of the tape, a brush operativelyconnected to the other end of said lever, and a plurality of contactsassociated with said rheostat and adapted to cooperate with said brushto vary the resistance connected to said motor thereby to control thespeed of said motor and in turn the speed of said tape drawing device.

6. In a stock quotation projecting machine having a ticker forintermittently discharging a tape and a projecting mechanism having asupport provided with a light aperture, the combination including a tapedrawing device for drawing the tape across said support as it isdischarged, an electric motor operatively connected to drive the tapedrawing device, a pivotally mounted lever, a finger on one end of saidlever adapted to engage said tape and responsive to the tension in saidtape, and a rheostat operatively connecting the other end of said leverwith said motor whereby the movement of said lever due to the tension inthe tape will in turn operate the rheostat to control the speed of saidmotor and thereby the speed of said tape drawing device.

'7. In a stock quotation projecting machine having a ticker forintermittently discharging a tape and a projecting mechanism having asupport provided with a light aperture, the combination including a tapedrawing device for drawing the tape across said support as it isdischarged, and an electric motor operatively connected to drive saidtape drawing device, a pivotally mounted lever, a finger on one end ofsaid lever adapted to engage the tape, and responsive to the tension inthe tape, and a rheostat operatively connecting the other end of saidlever with said motor whereby the movement of said lever due to thetension in the tape will in turn operate the rheostat to control thespeed of said motor and thereby the speed of said tape drawing device,said'finger engaging the tape in advance of the projecting mechanism.

8. In a stock quotation projecting machine having a ticker forintermittently discharging a tapeand a projecting mechanism, thecombination with a tape support having a light aperture, a tape drawingroller for drawing the tape through the projecting mechanism as it isbeing' discharged, a re-wind reel for winding by the tape as it leavesthe support, an electric motor operatively connected to said tapedrawing roller and rewind reel, said tape drawing roller cooperatingwith said ticker to Y draw the tape across said support and feeding itto said re-wind reel, a variable speed controlling device forcontrolling the speed of said motor to correspond to the rate at whichit is ejected from the ticker, and a loop forming device for forming aloop in the tape in advance of said projecting mechanism and responsiveto the tension in the tape, said loop forming device being operativelyconnected to said speed controlling device to actuate the same and thuscontrol the speed of said motor.

9. The combination with a device for printing characters on a tape, ofmeans operating substantially at constant speed for moving said tapethrough a projection field, and means for substantially changing theoperative speed of said means in accordance with the rate at which thetape is ejected from said device.

10. In combination, asource of tape, a tape support, a tape puller,means for operating said tape puller at one speed when a predeterminedamount of tape forms between the source and support, and means foroperating said tape puller at an appreciably lower speed when the tapebetween the source and support decreases to a predetermined amount,means to arrest the movement of the tape when the tape between thesource and support decreases to a still smaller amount and means formaintaining said tape at rest until an appreciable amount thereofcorresponding to a plurality of characters again accumulates between thesource and support.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with aprojection means toward which a character-bearing tape is'movable afterejection from a reconding means under the con trol of the feed mechanismithereof, an electrical take-up motor operating independently of saidfeed mechanism for moving said tape past the projection axis of saidprojecting means, variable resistance in circuit with said motor,supporting means for said tape in its patch of travel from saidrecording means to said projection axis positioned to provide a gapbetween said recording means and said projection axis for a loop of saidtape, and control means actuated by said loop for varying saidresistance to vary the speed of said motor proportional with the feedspeed of the tape whereby the speed of tape movement past saidprojedtion axis is decreased while increasing the duration of theperiods during which tape is moved past said axis, said control meanscomprising a switch contact member having an actuating member connectedthereto for moving said contact member in either of opposite directionsto change the speed of said motor.

12. In a projection system, the combination with a projection fieldtoward which a character-bearing tape is fed from a tape roll by thefeed mechanism of a printing device at varying rates of speed, of amotor operative independently of said feed mechanism for pulling saidtape through said projection field, tape-controlled means for startingand stopping said motor, and means operating in accordance with the rateat which tape is fed from said printing device for operating said motorat a speed proportional to the rate of tape feed, said last named meanscomprising a switch contact member having an actuating member connectedthereto for moving said contact member in either of opposite directionsto change the speed of said motor.

13. In a projection system, the combination with a projection fieldtoward which a characterbearing tape is fed from a tape roll by the feedmechanism of a printing device at varying rates of speed, of a motoroperative independently of said feed mechanism for pulling said tapethrough said projection field, tape-controlled means for starting andstopping said motor, and tape-controlled means operating in accordancewith the rate at which tape is fed from said printing device foroperating said motor at a speed proportional to the rate of tape feed,said last named means comprising a switch contact member having anactuating member connected thereto for moving said contact member ineither of opposite directions .to change the speed of said motor.

14. In a projection system, the combination with a projection fieldtoward which a characterbearing tape is fed from a tape roll by the feedmechanism of a printing device at varying rates of speed, of a motoroperating independently of said feed mechanism for pulling said tapethrough said projection field, and means operative after said motor hasbeen brought to normal speed for varying the speed thereof, said meansserving to vary the speed of said mo tor without discontinuing theoperation thereof, said means comprising a switch contact member havingan actuating member connected thereto for movin said contact member ineither of opposite directions to change the speed of said motor.

15. In a projection system, the combination with a projection fieldtoward which a characterbearing tape is fed from a tape roll by the feedmechanism of a printing device at varying rates of speed, of a motoroperating independently of said feed mechanism for pulling said tapethrough said projection field, and means for starting and progressivelyincreasing the speed of said motor to bring it to normal speed, saidmeans being thereafter operative to vary the speed of said motor withoutdiscontinuing the operation thereof, said means comprising a switchcontact member having an actuating member connected thereto for movingsaid contact member in either of opposite directions: to change thespeed of said motor.

16. In a stock quotation projection machine having a ticker forintermittently discharging tape, the combination with a support, of atape drawing device for drawing the tape across said support as it isdischarged, driving means for actuating said drawing device, a controlincluding a brake drum operatively associated with said driving means, afriction brake device positioned to be pressed into stopping engagementwith said drum, and 'a pivotally mounted device having one end engagingthe tape between said ticker and said support and the other endoperatively connected with said brake device, said pivotally mounteddevice being rocked in response to deflections in the tape in turn toactuate said brake device into or out of controlling engagement withsaid drum.

17. In a stock quotation projection machine having a ticker forintermittently discharging tape, the combination with a support, of atape pulling sheave for drawing the tape across said support as it isdischarged, a brake drum operatively associated with said tape pullingsheave, a friction brake device, and a pivotally mounted device havingone end engaging the tape between said ticker and said support and theother end operatively connected to said brake device in position tocooperate with said brake drum, said pivotally mounted device beingrocked in response to deflections in the tape in turn to actuate saidbrake device into or out of controlling engagement with said drum inturn to control said tape pulling sheave.

18. In combination a source of printed tape, a support across which saidtape is adapted to pass, means at the forward end of said support forholding said tape in frictional contact with the support, tape pullingmeans at the opposite side of the support, a brake associated with thepulling means and means controlled by tension of the tape between thetape source and the pulling means for applying said brake to arrest themovement of the tape across the support.

19. In combination a source of printed tape, a support across which saidtape is adapted to pass, means at the forward end of said support forholding said tape in frictional contact with the support, tape pullingmeans at the opposite side of the support, a brake associated with thepulling means, a pivoted roller about which the tape is passed and meanscontrolled by pivotal movement of said roller, caused by slack take-upof said tape for actuating said brake to arrest the movement of the tapeacross the support.

20. In combination a source of printed tape, a support across which saidtape is adapted to pass, means at the forward end of said support forholding said tape in frictional contact with the support, a pair ofopposed rollers at the opposite side of the support between which saidtape passes, a friction brake associated with one of said rollers andmeans actuated by the tape for applying said brake to arrest themovement of said roller whereby to stop the movement of the tape acrossthe support.

21. In combination a support, a source of tape disposed at one side ofsaid support, a pair of opposed rollers disposed at the opposite side ofthe support between which said tape passes, a friction brake associatedwith one of said rollers and means actuated by the tape for applyingsaid brake to arrest the movement of said roller, whereby to stop themovement of the tape across the support.

22. In combination a support, a source of tape disposed at one side ofsaid support, a pair of opposed rollers disposed at the opposite side ofthe support between which said tape passes and means controlled by slacktake-up of the tape for applying a gradual braking action to one of saidrollers whereby to arrest the movement of the tape across the support.

JAMES W. DECKER.

